<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM * AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. *The Financial Statements of Cost Plus, Inc. for the Nine Months Ended October 31, 1998. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> FEB-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 856 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 86,546 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 92,483 <PP&E> 99,670 <DEPRECIATION> 41,077 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 161,718 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 45,316 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 88 <OTHER-SE> 93,791 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 161,718 <SALES> 181,696 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 181,696 <CGS> 119,527 <TOTAL-COSTS> 181,455 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 872 <INCOME-PRETAX> (631) <INCOME-TAX> (246) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (385) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (385) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.04) <EPS-DILUTED> (.04)